NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb University softball team took the field to open its final Big South series of the regular season on Saturday afternoon, suffering a doubleheader setback to Charleston Southern

GAME ONE - Charleston Southern 8, Gardner-Webb 0
In game one, a four run first inning from the home side, then a four run fourth helped on by three Gardner-Webb errors, allowed Charleston Southern to pull away for an 8-0 win.

For the Runnin' Bulldogs, junior Alli Stidham tossed the majority of the contest, in for the final 3.1 innings in relief, allowing six hits and just one earned run.

At the plate for GWU, graduate third baseman Araceli Pesqueira recorded two of the three hits, while Stidham also reached with a single back through the box in the second.

GAME TWO - Charleston Southern 5, Gardner-Webb 2
In the late game, Charleston Southern jumped out to an early lead before holding off a late Gardner-Webb rally, as the 'Dawgs fell 5-2

Down 5-0 after one inning, GWU hit back in the top of the second. Sophomore right fielder Trina Van Dyke poked an RBI single to left field, allowing freshman shortstop Raigan Kelley to score from third to make the score 5-1.

In the fifth, freshman first baseman Madden McMahan-Waters came up big, sending a double down the left field line. Sophomore Carmen McRae came in to score from second base after previously opening the top of the inning with a double.

Junior left fielder Maura Pendleton finished as one of three Runnin' Bulldogs to record multiple hits, alongside McMahan-Waters and McRae. Freshman designated player Cora Levy and sophomore second baseman Lilly Deaton also were scored with a hit for Gardner-Webb.

In the circle, freshman pitcher Hannah Frye threw 5.0 inning in between the starter and last relief pitcher, finishing with two strikeouts, a walk, and no runs allowed.

UP NEXT
Next up, the Runnin' Bulldogs finish the CSU series with a single game Sunday in Charleston, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.